ALUMNI

Welcome to the St. Louis County Fire Academy

About the Academy

Opening in 1980, the St. Louis County Fire Academy began training and certifying firefighters for the 43 different fire departments and fire protection districts in St. Louis County. To work at any of these 43 fire service agencies, you must be certified through us.

There are two ways to go through the academy. The first is to be hired as a full-time, paid firefighter by a fire service district in St. Louis County. The other way is to go through the Academy as a self-sponsored student.

Diversity

Fighting fires and rescuing people is for everyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or other cultural socioeconomic status.

Employment

Upon certification, each individual seeks their own employment in the fire service. The fire service agencies in St. Louis County have their own individual hiring requirements. The STLCO Fire Academy does not hire firefighters, nor do they provide a job placement service.

Flexibility

We offer three classes each year, with typically 32 students in each class. Each class is a combination of new hires from St. Louis County Fire agencies and Self-Sponsored Students.

Crosstraining

94% of the 1551 firefighters presently working in the 43 different agencies in St. Louis County have either a Paramedics license (82%) or are E.M.T.s (12%). Other agencies in St. Louis County provide these important certifications.

Scott Hulsey

Chief Instructor

Metro West Fire Protection District

314-889-8677

Mobile: 314-568-0485

scotthu99@gmail.com

Aaron Rhodes

Deputy Chief Instructor

Affton Fire Protection District

314-889-8670

ap-rhodes@hotmail.com

Daniel Whatley

Deputy Chief Instructor

Metro West Fire Protection District

314-889-8670

danwh@metrowest-fire.org

Chris Jones

Deputy Chief Instructor

Central County Fire-Rescue

314-889-8670

chrisjones261@gmail.com

BETTY STOECKLIN

Administrative Assistant

314-889-8670

stoecklinb@gmail.com

New Point Process

General Overview

The Greater St. Louis County Fire Academy is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational corporation, which contracts with the St. Louis County Fire Standards Commission to provide firefighter training for St. Louis County. The St. Louis County Fire Standards Commission maintains the waiting list, determines when applications are released, and sets the minimum standards. For admissions information, please go to the Application Process page within this web site.

We currently hold three (3) classes a year with 32 students in each class. Each class is a combination of New Hires from St. Louis County fire agencies and Self-Sponsored students. If we have 10 New Hires needing to be rostered for a class, the balance of the seats, 22, would be filled with Self-Sponsored students.

Classes are hold Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm with a few exceptions.

Each class runs 14 weeks in length.

Tuition is currently $4,000.00 per recruit. However, there is no guarantee this rate will be in effect at the time you would attend a class.

Tuition is always due, in full, two (2) weeks prior to the first day of class. The Academy does not offer any type of payment plan. After class commences, there is NO refund of tuition if a recruit fails to complete the training program for any reason including excessive absences due to illness or injury, personal reasons, or if dismissed by the Academy for good cause shown. If a recruit repeats a class for any reason, the full tuition in effect at that time is applicable.

Payment may be made with a credit/debit card (Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and American Express) or cashier’s check. Card payments can be made over the phone. Personal checks and cash are NOT accepted. Please call in advance to ensure someone is in the office to accept your payment.

A 3% service fee is charged for all credit card payments. (The fee for a $4,000.00 tuition payment would be $120.00.) There is no fee if you use a Debit/Check card.

The Fire Academy has been approved for G.I. Bill benefits effective July 7, 2013. To apply for benefits, please go to GIBill.va.gov. If you have never used the benefit before, submit VA Form 22-1990. If you have previously used the benefit, submit VA Form 22-1995. Once your application is approved, you will receive an Award letter. This letter must be turned in to the Academy so that we can submit the necessary paperwork.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Betty Stoecklin at 314-889-8670.

ENTRANCE STANDARDS & TUITION

Age

Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application.

Education

Must have a High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma.

Police Record Check

Must not have been convicted of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or a felony under which the circumstances reasonably affect a person’s competency to perform the duties of a firefighter. Required to provide a fingerprint search based background check form the MO State Highway Patrol. Current cost is $28.30

Driver's License

Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Military

Separation must have been “Under Honorable Conditions.”

Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT)

Must have valid and current C.P.A.T. certification.

Medical Insurance

Must have coverage for the entire duration of Class attended.

TUITION

Tuition is presently $4,000.00 per Recruit. However, there is no guarantee this rate will be in effect at the time you would attend a class.

Tuition is always due, in full, two (2) weeks prior to the first day of Class.

Payment may be made with a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express), a check card/debit card, cashier’s check or money order. Personal checks are NOT accepted. Cash is NOT accepted. (A 3% convenience fee is charged for all credit card payments.) (There is no convenience fee charged for check card/debit card payments.

Well, it is FINALLY here and completed. The new Training/Burn Tower is ready to use. There are still a few things to complete around the area, but we will be utilizing the tower for the 100th Recruit Class Structure Burns next week. We would like to thank Phil Lopez for his tireless work, Kim Besserman…